With Danny Granger basically lost for the year due to knee issues, George took on a larger scoring role with the Pacers — he used 23.5 percent of their possessions when on the court — averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

That won the third-year player the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

“He left the season last year saying ‘Coach, I’m going to work harder than I ever have this summer and come back a completely different player. Just wait and see you’ll be so impressed.” And I have been impressed,” coach Frank Vogel said. “But what impresses me the most about Paul is his commitment to playing team basketball. Winning basketball.”

George is a force at both ends — the Pacers had the best defense in the NBA this season not because of the scheme (they run pretty standard stuff) but because they have strong defenders on the wings and Roy Hibbert in the paint as a backstop. George can be a lockdown guy on one end and run the offense on the other end.

This is a deserved award.

George got 52 of the 120 first place votes and finished well ahead in the voting. Second place went to the Hornets Greivis Vasquez, third place was Larry Sanders of the Milwaukee Bucks.